P&E - Soil Problems Flashcards
what are the types of soil erosion?
water and wind erosion
what is water erosion? (give an example)
- soil being degraded due to water
riverbank erosion = riverbank sides are eroded due to passing water, which erodes agricultural land surrounding the river
what are some causes of water erosion?
lack of interception, topography of the catchment, poor irrigation
what is wind erosion?
wind blows away the fertile topsoil
what causes wind erosion?
overgrazing or overcultivation (strips the soil of the vegetation roots which hold it together)
what are the types of transportation that occurs during wind erosion
soil creep - larger particles roll along the ground
saltation - smaller particles bounce on the ground
suspension - tiny soil particles are carried in the air
what is water logging?
when the soil is oversaturated, and no longer holds an oxygen, which means that plants cant respire
what causes water logging?
flooding, heavy rainfall
what is structural deterioration?
soil loses its structure, primarily by losing its pores
what causes structural deterioration?
livestock trampling and machinery can lead to soil compaction (pores close)
what is salinisation?
saltwater rises to the surface of the soil and evaporates, leaving behind a layer of salt crystals
what is desertification?
fertile land become dry and desert like, becoming unusable
what causes desertification?
- lack of rainfall
- high temperatures
- overgrazing
- overcultivation
soil management strategies
- cover crops = crops that are planted to protect bare soil from erosion
- controlled irrigation and effective drainage strategies
- moving livestock in order to prevent overgrazing and soil compaction
